New Delhi: Following concerns expressed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Information and Broadcasting ministry has advised media organisations that appropriate warnings should accompany any depiction of rash and negligent driving.

The advisory comes days after senior BJP leader and Cabinet minister Gopinath Munde lost his life following a road accident.

The Road Transport and Highways ministry had opined that the depiction of rash, negligent and dangerous driving in programmes, serials, news features, etc. On TV and in print media could be against public interest, the I&B ministry said.

The Road Transport and Highways ministry had requested that stills, images or scenes depicting rash or dangerous driving should not usually be portrayed in print and electronic media, said the advisory from I&B ministry.
I&B ministry said that the Road, Transport and Highways ministry had added that in the "unlikely event" where such depictions become unavoidable, these should be accompanied by appropriate messages such as `driving two-wheeler without wearing helmet is dangerous and illegal` or `driving four wheeler without wearing seat belt is dangerous`.

Thus all TV channels, Doordarshan and print media have been advised to be extremely careful in portraying such images or scenes which depict rash, negligent or dangerous driving, the I&B advisory said.
In case such portrayal is necessary, then it may be accompanied by appropriate warnings, it added.